Sword Valley Sect(Part 1)

'Wait, so I get points for both killing and selling their corpses.'

<Yes>

'It seems a bit too advantageous for me, does it come with a drawback or some sort of penalty.'

<No, but if you hate this function than we could lock the sell corpses function>

'NO NO JUST IGNORE EVERYTHING I JUST SAID.'

'Now then I still have sometime before dinner which Merit Law should I cultivate first, will it be the Sky Shattering Titan method or the Immortal Fiend Bodyrefining method.'

<I recommend you to cultivate after dinner as there will be less of a chance for interruptions. I also recommend that you buy some pills to increase your cultivation speed>

'You are a System right, then why do you call yourself I.'

<Listen here you Faggot, just because I am system does not mean I am emotionless, I may be artificial but I am still intelligent>

"Haha, sorry."

'But seriously though who made you.'

<Classified Information>

'All right then, keep your secrets.'

<Did you just quote The Lord of the Rings>

'YES I DID.'

<Now it's a JOJO meme>

'I am surprised you actually knew that one'

<We are getting off topic, you need to buy some pills to speed up your cultivation>

'I thought that pills have impurities in them and using too many of them can make the cultivation foundation unstable.'

<Yes that is true, but you are an exception to this rule>

'Because I have a system.'

<No, have you forgotten the 3 blessing of Paragon of Hell. One of them is the Infernal Whale's Digestive System. With it, all pills that you eat no matter how much impurities it contains will be digested into pure energy that can be absorbed by you. So you can cultivate easily just by eating pills, as long as you have enough comprehension about the next releam>

'I see.'

'Show me my current point balance.'

<Point wallet

Hell points: 100

Sword Points: 100

>

'Now show me the pill shops.'

He looked through the Pill Shop first, but he quickly frowned, not because the pills were too expensive, as he already expected that, but because of the wide range of selection.

There were too many pills for him to browse through by himself. As he scrolled down he remembered him times using memecenter where the memes never end. No matter how long you scroll down there will always be a new meme waiting for you.

'Brother System do me a favor and filter all the pills that are not in my budget.'

<Done>

'Now arrange them from cheapest to most expensive, from top to bottom.'

<Done>

Wu Li scrolled down again and saw that the cheapest pill was only 1 Hell point while the most expensive was exactly 100 Hell points.

On average most pills were between 25 and 40 Hell points.

But if it was on the expensive side than the pill would be between 60 and 90 Hell points.

After scrolling and thorough all the pills he got a general idea.

The really cheap pills that only cost 1 Hell points are mostly all poison pills.

For example, the Golden Tode pill: cost 1 Hell point. Effect a pill made from toxins extracted from the Golden tode. Caused cardiac arrest in seconds after injection, recommended using after dilution.

The pills between 25 and 40 Hell points are pills used for general cultivation, by normal cultivators. There effects where average.

For example, the Returning Qi Pill: cost 30 Hell points. Made with Ice lotus extract and Fire Bear's blood as the core ingredients. Able to restore instantly nearly 20% of lost Qi. Waring the restored Qi will be impure, over-consumption of this pill will destabilizer your foundation there for only consume a maximum of 5 pills a day.

Such pills can be invaluable in a battle where Qi is consumed at a very fast rate.

Minor Healing Pill: Cost 26 Hell points. Made with Nether Sunflower seeds as the core ingredient. Small wounds can be easily and quickly healed by crushing and applying the powder on the wound.

There was also the Surging Spring Pill.

Surging Spring Pill: Cost 20 Hell points. Made with the bone marrow of Iron Tooth Tiger and Icy Fire Mulberry. This pill supplements the Qi in your body thereby improving the cultivation.

But unlike the Returning Qi Pill where the Qi increases instantly the Surging Spring Pill needs to properly digested and takes time.

Those pills that whose cost is between 60 and 100 hell points are generally, either upgrades versions of the pills in the 25 to 40 range and life-saving pills.

An example would be the Extreme Qi boost Pill: Cost 85 Hell points. Made with Bood rose fruit as the core ingredient. Able to restore instantly nearly 50% of lost Qi. Warning the restored Qi will be slightly impure over-consumption of this pill will destabilizer your foundation there for only consume a maximum of 20 pills a day.

The Extreme Qi boost pill is basically an upgraded version of the Returning Qi Pill.

Then there were life-saving pills like the Holy Yang Pill.

Holy Yang Pill: cost 100 Hell points. Made with Sun stones as the core material. Can heal internal injuries and correct pulse disorders.

Since he was piss poor on Hell points he could only buy the cheaper pills.

'Brother System, I will buy 2 Surging Spring Pill.'

<...>

'What is wrong brother System?'

<There is a is a pill that suits you better inside this list.>

On hearing this Wu Li browsed the list again. Then he understood what the System meant.

The poison pills, since he was immune to orally ingested poisons due to the Infernal Whale's Digestive System, he could eat poison pill and still be fine. The poison pills will be digested into pure energy and absorbed by his body.

But Wu Li cringed as he thought that he had to eat poison pills, but he steeled himself and decided to buy the least ominous pill.

'Brother System, buy 10 Golden Tode Pill.'

<....I think you should buy the Explosive Yuna Pill>

Wu Li looked at the description of the Explosive Yuna Pill.

Explosive Yuna Pill: Cost 1 Hell point. Made with Vermilion Fire Flower as the core ingredient. This is an explosive grenade like pill that would explode vigorously under slightly strong pressure.

'Um.....are you sure this the correct pill, cause I don't think this is edible.'

<With Infernal Whale's Digestive System you can easily withstand the berserk and explosive energy and absorb it. Not only is it cheap but the energy within it is 3 times greater than the Surging Spring Pill>

'Ok, I guess.'

Wu Li was still doubtful, but he chose to trust the system.

And so he bought 10 Explosive Yuna Pill. And the pills were immediately transferred into his inventory.

His hand sunk into the void as it entered the inventory. He selected a pill form the 10 and took it outside.

The pill was red in color and had a spicy scent to it.

<If you drop it or squees it, it will explode>

"Li'Er it time for dinner" his grandpa called him.

He returned the pill back into the inventory and headed to the dinner table.

At the dinner table, both Wu Li and Wu Zen were eating, beef stew and rice.

Suddenly Wu Li stopped eating and looked at his grandpa.

"What is wrong Li'Er does the stew have too much salt," he asked Wu Li.

"Grandpa, from today onwards I am 16 years old, that means I am an adult from now onwards," Wu Li said in a serious tone.

Hearing Wu Li ominously serious tone Wu Zen felt like something horrible was going to happen.

"I have decided to become a Martial artist," Wu Li said firmly looking into Wu Zen's eyes.

Hearing those words Wu Zen seemed to have aged 10 years.

What did it mean when Wu Li said he will become a Martial artist? It meant that he had to leave home and either join the military or a sect. It meant that Wu Zen would be left all alone.

Wu Zen only had one child, his son, his wife died due to the winter illness soon after giving birth to his son. During the time of her death, Wu Zen was at the border and because of the war between Kushen Empire and Omela Empire, he couldn't get leave to see his wife for the last time. She was cremated. Wu Zen still has her ashes.

He was always pained by the fact that he couldn't give her a better life.

As he was a soldier he always believed that he would pass away before his wife did but fate works in many mysterious ways.

Soon after the death of Wu Zen's wife, his brother Wu Jin took in his son Wu Tu and raised him as his own.

Following in Wu Jin's footsteps Wu Tu became a farmer.

Wu Zen, depressed by the death of his wife spend all his energy fighting in the frontline so as to distract himself from his sorrow.

He developed a reputation as a brave and ferocious soldier. His higherups complimented him several times. And if his cultivation had been higher he would have risen up the military ranks.

All the compliments were useless as they were just gas. They couldn't bring back his wife.

He felt pathetic, he felt useless, he felt worthless.

But time heals all, he eventually learned how to move own.

37 years after the death of his wife, he received news of the massacre of his home village. He tried to get leave then too but it was futile so he stabbed out his left eye and faked it to be done by an enemy soldier in the middle of the battlefield, thus getting an early retirement.

And after that when he learned how his son and daughter in law died, he was enraged and wanted to slaughter his way into that Noble's castle and kill him. He knew it was a suicide mission but he still wanted to do it.

His mind was now divided into ideas, revenge, and rationality.

But as he looked at the uncrying yet breathing baby in his arms.

In the end, rationality won in his mind. He decided to suppress all his anger, for the sake of this boy.

Due to spending most of his time in the army he couldn't watch his own son Wu Tu grow up. But for Wu Li, he was able to spend time almost all his time with him. It allowed him to experience what fatherhood was.

He watched the unhealthy baby get the winter illness that took his wife. Frightened he rushed the baby to the local doctor and under the care of the doctor the baby miraculously survived.

He remembered how that baby learned to walk.

He vividly remembers the first words that the baby uttered.

'hungry.'

He remembered the boy playing tag with the neighborhood boys.

He remembered the boy practicing a mysterious sword art.

All these memories.....

Honestly Wu Zen predicted this would happen the day he found Wu Li practicing the mysterious sword art.

But the reality was more crushing than what he imagined.

To Wu Zen, Wu Li was more precious than his own son Wu Tu. And now he was going to leave him.

'All birds have to leave the nest. But I don't want to lose him too,' thought Wu Zen.

'Mabe it is for the best. But before he leaves I need to pass on all the knowledge that I have about the outside world and sects to him.'

"I will allow you to join the Martial world, but only if you pass 3 tests," said Wu Zen.

Wu Li was overjoyed, although Wu Zen was not his real grandpa he still loved him as his own father.

During his life on Earth, his father was CEO of a famous smartphone company and he was a man who put logic and gains above love. He had 5 sons among which Wu Li was the 3rd and the least impressive. Naturally, he never gained the approval or love of his father.

So to Wu Li, Wu Zen is a father figure to him, and his words had a heavy impact on him.

If Wu Zen asked him to abandon the idea of joining the Martial world, he would seriously consider doing it.

So he was happy that his grandpa would allow him to join the Martial world after passing the 3 tests.

As for the 3 tests, he did not care what it was as he had 100% confidence in passing it with his strength comparable to Body refining level 9.

So he nodded in agreement.

"Good, quickly finish dinner and follow me," said Wu Zen.

After they both finished dinner in a hurry, they left there home.

At first, Wu Li was confused where they were going but he soon realized that they were going to Bucher Lu house.

His originally bright face darkened a bit.

'Well played grandpa. But I won't give up so easily'

He used to have a crush on Bucher Lu's daughter, Lu Mai but thinking of the greater picture he destroyed the feeling he had for her before it could bloom.

Only power mattered in this cruel dod eats dog world, love was unnecessary.

Although Wu Li knew such thoughts were a bit hypocritical he still destroyed the feelings he had for her. He also avoided her whenever they crossed paths on the street.

Wu Li thought that Wu Zen wanted to use the feelings he used to have for her and convince him to stay with him.

Wu Zen did not know Wu Li's thoughts. He currently thinking back to his time as a rookie in the Kushen military.

All the rookies were forced to work in a butcher shop for 3 months so they can get used to blood and gore.

Wu Zen wanted to put Wu Li through the same training so that he won't be afraid of seeing blood and gore.

'The Martial world is a Killing world, where peoples lives have less value than vegetables. Only through the baptism of blood and gore can Li'Er have the will power to survive in such a world, if he can't even do this he should just stay at home and become a farmer.'

Both of them soon arrived at the doorstep of butcher Lu's house.

Wu Zen knocked on his door and after a few seconds a tall fat but muscular man with a thick beard and curly hair came opened the door, he was topless and rubbing his eyes showing that he had been sleeping.

He yawned said with his eyes still closed, "Why the fuck are you disturbing my sleep?"

"Brother Mo it's me," said Wu Zen.

Bucher Lu Mo suddenly pulled open his eyes as he heard the voice.

"Brother Zen," he said as he smiled, "What are you doing here this late at night? Was there something wrong with the beef"

"Father it is rude to question guests like that, invite them inside," said Lu Mo's daughter Lu Mai in a sweet and gentle tone as he came to the door with a smile.

She had smooth black hair reaching up to her waist, a slightly fair skin, and a developed hourglass body. She was truly a village beauty.

Wu Li avoid looking at her face and suppressed his fast beating heart.

"You're right, ask your mother to take out the rice wine and prepare a meat dish," said Lu Mo

'Looks like Bucher Lu and grandpa are good friends,' thought Wu Li.

Of course, Wu Li did not know that he was the reason for this friendship. Because to keep Wu Li safe Wu Zen hunted down all the wild animals at the edge of the forest. He sold all the carcasses to Lu Mo. Thus both of them became friends.

Lu Mo invited them into his house and served them rice wine. Because he was of age Wu Li can also drink wine. So as to not to show disrespect he drank the wine like how his grandpa and Lu Mo had drunk. But both Lu Mo and Wu Zen expected him to suffer a bit under the effects of the strong rice wine but he drank like a pro with the help of Infernal Whale's Digestive System.

"Kid, have you drunk wine before", asked a suspicious Lu Mo.

"No, this is the first time," Wu Li replied with a smile.

'Thank god for the Infernal Whale's Digestive System.'

Even Wu Zen was suspicious of him, but he suppressed his suspicion and talked to Lu Mo.

"Brother Mo, I have come to ask you a favor," said Wu Zen.

"Whatever it is I will do my best to help my brother," said Lu Mo with a smile.

"It's nothing too much I just want to ask if, my grandson, here could work at your shop as your assistant for 3 months," said Wu Zen.

'Just what is grandpa planning.'

"I never thought your grandson would be interested in becoming a butcher, it not exactly an easy job," said Lu Mo as he smiled, he then looked at Wu Li and said, "Nephew Li are you sure want to do this. Bucher has to constantly deal with blood and gore and not to mention the fatty smell. Are you sure you can handle this."

"To pass grandpa's test I am willing to go up a mountain of swords or swim a sea of flame."

"Test? Brother Zen what is going own."

Wu Zen looked at Lu Mai who had served them wine and the meat dish and said, "Niece Mai could you leave us, men, alone to talk."

Lu Mai smiled and left.

"Li'Er wants to join the Martial world and become a Martial artist."

"WHAT!?" shouted Lu Mo in surprise, he then looked at Wu Li and advice, "Nephew Li becoming a Martial artist is not a game, the Martial world is a cruel world where people would do anything for benefits. It is better to stay in this village where everyone friendly to one another and conflicts are rare."

"You don't have to advice me Uncle Mo I have already made up my mind. In this world, only the strong can control their destiny. I want to become strong enough to control my own destiny," said Wu Li his eyes overflowing with confidence and determination.

'And once I get strong enough I will kill the Noble young master that killed grandpa son and daughter in law', he added mentally.

"...," seeing is eyes full of confidence and determination Lu Mo was confused as to what to say. He looked at Wu Zen for help. Wu Zen just sighed and shook his head.

"This brat had always been a good boy but he is also as stubborn as a rock," said Wu Zen, "Since he wants to become a Martial artist. He must first pass the 3 tests that I give him. The first test is the baptism of blood and gore," he then turned to Wu Li and said, "The Martial world is a world of killing and if you want to survive in such a world you must first be prepared to see blood and gore. So the first test is to see if you have the will power to survive 3 months as a butcher's assistant."

'I see, it seems like I misunderstood grandpa's intentions.'

"Oooo, I heard such a training method exist in the military", said Lu Mo.

"You are right brother Mo I have undergone such training as a rookie in the military."

"Ok, Nephew Li although I can't make you change your mind but I can always make you do something extremely disgusting to make sure that you won't complete this test. So are you sure you want to move forward with this,"

"If I can't get through these simple test, then I won't make it too far in the Martial world. So yes I want to move forward with this test, and I will pass with flying colors."

"Very well then, come to my shop at 5:30 tomorrow morning."

Wu Li nodded in agreement. After which both Wu Li and Wu Mo ate the meat dish and went back to their home.

Looking at the backs of both the Grandpa and Grandson Lu Mo sighed.

'That's the 3rd one this year', he thought. Many young men of the village are allured by the riches and powers given by the Martial World, and with the addition of Wu Li, there are 3 young men who expressed their interest in joining the Martial World this year. The other 2 had already tried to join the Battle Tower sect and failed and they then joined the military.

'If this keeps up all the capable young men of the village will leave us.'

"Father close the door, otherwise all the mosquitos will enter our house," warned Lu Mai.

And so Lu Mo closed the door.

On the way back to their home both grandson and grandpa did not utter a word to one another.

Wu Li was panning his training for the next 3 months. Since he will spend most of his morning at butcher Lu's shop he ha to find extra time to practice the basic sword arts. Then there are the 2 Merit Laws that he got as the reward for completing his first mission. He needs to train with both of them too.

'I wonder when I will receive my next mission.'

<Do you wish to receive your next mission>

He was startled by the sudden prompt of the system but he quickly smiled.

'Yes.'

<Once an active mission is given out it cannot be canceled, do you still wish to procide>

'Yes.'

<Second active mission:

Reach to Body Refining level 9: Reach to Body Refining level within 90 days.

Reward: *Hidden*

Penalty: One Merit Law at random will be erased from your memory.

>

'Fuck, why is there is a penalty?'

<The penalty is to motivate the host>

'I shouldn't have said yes.'

At the same time, Wu Zen was thinking of the second test that he was going give to Wu Li. But he was hesitant whether he should give this test to his grandson. This test was also from the Kushen Military. But it was much crueler than the first.

'If he is to survive in the Martial world he must have nerves of steel and will of iron, if he cannot pass the 2nd test I will put him in house arrest.'